“Yeehaw! Almost done with this Batch of Bubbly Bluebird Brain-Teaser Pies,” Everything Pie Cookie declared to the chaotic assemblage of ingredients scattered across her countertops. A bag of licorice whips sat next to a spool of copper wire, and a jar of pickled onions rested near a bucket of glitter.

She stopped stirring abruptly, tapping her chin with the handle of the whisk. “Now, a pie ain’t a pie without a whole lotta happiness woven right into the crust, but sometimes ya gotta add a little spice to make sure that happiness sticks!”